President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed victory Sunday in his bid to replace Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful “presidential system,” but the main opposition party said it will challenge the votes that provided his margin of victory. “The Supreme Election Board has changed the rules of the vote,” said Bulent Tezcan, another CHP deputy chairman. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds his ballot as he leaves a booth at a polling station in Ozan Kose / AFP/Getty Images Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds his ballot as he leaves a booth at a polling station in Istanbul on Sunday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds his ballot as he leaves a booth at a polling station in Istanbul on Sunday. But in Damascus, his backers say the alternatives may be worseUPDATES:11:35 a.m.: This article has been updated with Erdogan declaring victory.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 16, 2017 17:28 UTC